Reviews

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$39.95

With the release of the Eduard Bf-109G-6 kit it was inevitable that they would release Brassin sets for the kit. This one allows the modeler to open up the engine cowling and expose the beautiful engine underneath.

Packed in a sturdy top opening box with individual ziplock bags inside that protect the parts with the aid of foam inserts. Four small ziplock bags protect and segregate the parts in shipping. There are 66 resin parts molded in various shades of grey resin. I could not find any issues with bubbles or deformity. Also included is a brass photo etch fret. I mean it is from Eduard so you know it is perfect. Included is a really nice little decal sheet that has the markings for the engine. You can make up any serial number in yellow or white.

Review Author
Mike Hanson
Published on
Company
Aoshima
Scale
1/2000
MSRP
$5.00

Two Tiny Ships

The USS New Jersey and USS Essex by Aoshima

  • USS New Jersey
  • USS Essex

I like small models, so when I saw these two 1/2000 scale kits from Aoshima on the review list I quickly asked for them. Aoshima makes a whole series of ship kits in this scale, and I admit that I liked these review samples enough just upon opening the box that I went out and ordered a half-dozen more. The series includes American, English, and German subjects. There are unfortunately no Japanese ships included in this series so far.

Since the kits are so small, and are very similar, I’ll be reviewing the two sample kits side-by side.

These two kits represent a couple famous WWII US Naval subjects – the USS New Jersey BB-62 and the USS Essex CV-9.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Aerobonus
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$10.00

Aires has issued two versions of a 35 lb. lubricating bucket pump used to grease planes and the like. Both versions have exactly the same resin, photoetch and paint schemes. The only difference is the decals- one is for the US Navy and the other, the US Air Force. It makes sense to do these build concurrently.

The resin consists of eight parts; four for the wheels, the handle, the plunger and the main body. The parts are cast perfectly and only the large body needs a pour spout removed. The photoetch parts are for the nozzles and the handles. There is also a length of wire for the hose. Assembly is pretty quick. The instructions call for you to cut small wire pieces (not included) to add the handle as pivot pins. I skipped this part; it is way to small) and just glued all the parts in place. The four wheels are glued in place and the handles and construction is done.

Review Author
James Binder
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$8,177.00

This kit is a new Profipack boxing of the venerable 1/48 scale Eduard FW 190A series, this time in its Nachtjager guise. It was my first foray into the Eduard FW 190 and I was blissfully unaware of the quirks of this kit. I started working on this kit during a build night at my Local Plastic Model Club and two other members warned me as to what I had gotten myself into. As the build went on I was to see why everyone has a love hate relationship with this kit and why it paid to heed their warnings. The Eduard Profipack is chock full of what we’ve come to expect from Eduard. Superb photo etch for the cockpit and other external parts (in this case the antennae for the FuG 217 Radar). Excellent masks for the canopy and wheels, and enough plastic parts to practically make two full kits. It also comes with an extensive decal set for 4 different aircraft from the a-5 through a-8 series and a sheet of stencil decals as well.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Zoukei-Mura
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$152.00

Diving back in, we'll build the cockpit. It is similar to the frame itself. This starts with the two side walls which are detailed with extra levers and gauges and the throttles. These are painted RLM 66 so it stands out from the RLM 2 frame. The rudder pedals are painted and they are sandwiched between the two side frames and attached to the fuselage. Fit is perfect. The instrument panel is next and there are two choices. One is clear and there is a decal that can be added to the back. The second is solid and you can add the decals to the front. I built the clear version with Elmer's in the glass parts and then painting and adding the decal to the back. Once dry, I sprayed the back of the panel black as it is visible in the plane. To finish off the cockpit, the instrument panels is added to the frame and then added to the cockpit with its bracing. The linkage rods and control stick are added and the cockpit is done.

Book Author(s)
Steven J. Zaloga
Review Author
Marc K. Blackburn
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$17.95

The New Vanguard series from Osprey Publishing is not so new anymore, but they continue to produce one quality publication after another. It seems that at one point they will run out of topics, but thankfully, they have not. The series’ most prolific author, armor expert Steven Zaloga has turned his attention to the T-26. As the subtitle of this book suggests, it was one of the most prolific tanks in the Soviet Army in the late inter-war era.

Review Author
Tim Wilding
Published on
Company
Master Box Ltd
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$21.00

This kit contains two grey sprues with 63 overall parts to build 5 full figures of SS infantry troops on the Eastern Front. Three of the soldiers are carrying food, so it seems that they just raided a farm and are happily on their way to make dinner. One soldier is carrying two chickens, while another has eggs or potatoes in his helmet. A third is carrying a watermelon on the box top, but it really is a cabbage. Most are smiling and have happy expressions on their faces.

There also is a sprue with 112 parts of German weapons and personal equipment included. Only five weapons are needed, so lots for the spares box. Each figure is divided into a head, torso, two arms and two legs. The overall detail is very good, but some of the seam marks will need cleaning up. There is a lot of flash on the middle of this sprue.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

Thanks again to Aires/Quickboost for providing these excellent review items to review; and to IPMS leadership for shipping the item to me…

Once again, a simple upgrade with serious improvement.

Look at the Kit supplied prop and spinner; if used, they will look OK, but you will have a fillet on the back side of the props that doesn’t exist on the actual aircraft.

Look at the difference on the QB prop and spinners when installed. These took all of ½ hour to do.

First, Cut off the back of the spinner pour stub. I used a razor saw to cut around the circumference, then final cut to the center. Easy to do, and WEAR A GLOVE to prevent personal injury.

Next, use the prop and spinner shaft jig supplied with the QB set. Appropriate drill bits were used to finish the shallow shaft hole, then you put the spinner in the jig, and carefully drill out the shaft hole in the spinner from behind. Blow out the fluff from the prop holes, and….

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.50

Thanks go to Aires/Quickboost for providing IPMS USA this review set and IPMS leadership for passing it my way!

Not much to this one; replace the kit items with the Quickboost exhausts and save yourself the serious pain of clearing out the kit exhausts… it’s a no-brainer! I took the QB set, painted them with Testor’s Burned iron metalizer (I used a brush) and cut them off the pour stub… installed with superglue, Fantastic!

This set rates 10 of 10; Worth every penny! Thanks again to Aires/Quickboost for another great review opportunity, and IPMS for allowing me to do the job!

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$49.95

Having built the Eduard MiG-21PFM and the Spitfire Mk.IXs I had high hopes for the new Eduard Bf-109G, my favorite airplane. The MiGs and Spitfires are some of the finest fitting and most accurate kits on the market. They are about as perfect as you can get a kit. So each kit should get better right? Well not always.